Multiple tab square butt shingle



Aug. 6, 1957 R. D. BoRDEAux MULTIPLE TAB SQUARE BUTT SHINGLE Filed Dec. 29, 1954 United States Patent F MULTIPLE TAB SQUARE BUTT SHINGLE Robert D. Bordeaux, Chicago, lll., assignor to Globe Roofing Products Co., Inc., a corporation of Indiana Application December 29, 1954, Serial No. 478,343

Claims. (Cl. 10S- 7) This invention relates to an asphaltic shingle construction commonly known as a multiple butt shingle and `more particularly a multiple square butt lock shingle, al-

though certain features thereof may be employed with equal advantage for other types of shingles.

It contemplates more especially an improved locking tab construction for :a multiple square butt shingle of the asphaltic or composition type which will not be prone to tear 'during application, provides sufficient side and head lap, and has ample leakage protection in the region of the locking tabs and connecting slots thereon.

Various types of locking tabs have heretofore been proposed for square butt shingles, but these have one deticiency or another depending upon the structural positioning of the slot or slit connector complemental to the locking tab. When the complemental locking tab slot or slit is contiguous with the vertical slot that define the laterally adjacent squarebutt formation, the shingle is prone to tear during application of the superposed courses. Whenthe connecting slot or slit is removed from the square butt dividing slot, then such slits have been left exposed to limit the amount of protection against leakage.

With these deficiencies in mind applicant has improved the construction of such shingles by resort to slots which are independent of the square butt vertical divisional slot and `is completely protected against leakage by providing ample head and side lap to insure complete run-off of the water from course to course without sacrificing adequate coverage per square or production cost considerations. Then, too, the complemental slots and locking tabs are `so sized and arranged to provide for simple, easy and `overlying courses in secure interlocking engagement without straining the material` contiguous with the slots or comprising the locking tabs.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved multiple square butt locking tab shingle.

Y Another object is to provide improved complemental interlocking slots and connecting tabs for composition shingles.

Still another object is to provide a substantially horizontal slot in the body of each multiple square butt independent of the latters divisional slot.

A further object isjto provide a substantially horizontal trapezodal slot in the body of each multiple square butt independent of the latters divisional slot.

` A still further object is to provide a multiple square butt asphaltic shingle with complemental locking tabs and horizontal trapezoidally shaped slots independent of the vertical butt divisional slots for maximum strength, leakage protection and ease of application.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the fol lowing description of an illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

2,801,599 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 ice In the drawing: j

Figure l is an enlarged plan view of a shingle embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlargedV fragmentary plan view of laterally adjacent shingles of the type illustrated in Figure l with a superposed shingle angularly positioned for the initial locking tab connection preparatory to `swinging it clockwise to sequentially engage the second locking tab with a slot in an adjacent shingle.

Figure 3 is a plan view of :adjacently and superposed courses of shingles applied in interlocked and staggered relation. Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing `the precise shape of the locking tab.

p Figure 5 s an enlarged fragmentary plan `view showing the precise shape of the complemental locking slot.

The structure selected for illustration is not intended to serve as a limitation upon the scope or teachings of the invention, but Ais merely illustrative thereof. There may be considerable variations and adaptations of all or part of the teachings depending upon the dictates of cornmercial practice. t The present embodiment comprises a substantially rectangular sheet of asphaltic or composition material 10 of the multiple tab square-butt type having improved means for locking down the butts. In this instance, the rectangular sheet 10 has two symmetrically` disposed square butts 11-12 of equal width defined by a vertical slot 13 of substantial proportions open at thebottom `horizontal shingle sheet edge and extending upwardly for at least the exposed portion of the shingles 10 when applied in superposed courses to show the full outline of the butts 11-12. i

The substantially rectangular sheet 10 has a width of W and is irregular in outline by reason of a lateral offset and outwardly extending shoulder 14 defining the lateral lap 15. The lateral lap 15 corresponds in height to the vertical shoulder 16 of somewhat greater depth than the exposed area defined by line E along which locking tab horizontal slots 17-18 are provided in both butts 11-12. The lower horizontal edge of the slots 1'7-18 determines the position of the exposure line E from the shingle bottom horizontal edge 19-20 of the butts 11-12 defined by the vertical slot 13 therebetween.

So that the shingles 10will be laterally contiguous and interfltting, the corresponding opposite edge of the shingle sheet 10 is offset to the extent of a shoulder 21 that extends laterally inwardly for a distance equal to and in horizontal alignment with the laterally outwardly extending shoulder 14 defining the lateral lap portion or area 15. The shoulder 21 extends inwardly to a vertical and downwardly extending shoulder 22 which terminates in a horizontal shoulder 23 in horizontal alignment with and comprising the upper edge of the vertical butt defining slot 13. The horizontal shoulder 23 is commensurate in width with the butt defining vertical slot 13 to provide and serve that purpose in conjunction with the contiguous vertical butt edge 24 and the adjacent butt edge or shoulder 16 of the next adjacent shingle 10. With this arrangement, each shoulder 16 of the shingle sheet 10 defines a lateral offset 15 that is complemental to the opposite lateral inset or cut-out 21-22 to provide a butt defining vertical slot 13' in conjunction with the adjacent horizontal contiguous edge shoulder 23` and vertical edge 24.

The vertical edge 24 is parallel to the forward shingle edge 16 and the butt defining slot 13, and is commensurate in length therewith to constitute one vertical edge of the next butt defining slot 13 formed in conjunction with the forward shingle lateraloffset edge 16 of the next adjacent shingle 10. As shown, the forward lateral oliset edge 16 withthe horizontal corner defining intersecting horizontal offset edge 14 are complements of the intersecting 3 edges 21-22 of the -laterally inset cut-out on the next adjacent shingle 10. This'interfit 14-16 and--ZI-ZZ serves as a guide in laying-fand accurately squaring the succeeding laterally adjacent shingles to define the lbutt segregating slot 1 3 in adjacent shingles* 10., i 'I lv So thaty the multiple -buttS-IILIZ will be staggered and locked to the underlying shingles 10, locking tabs -26 depend from and are formed integral with'the bottom edges 19-20 thereof. The locking tabs 25--26 arepositioned substantially at the center of the butts 11-,12 and in this instance, extend diagonally forward to present acute angles '27 with 4the horizontal lower shingle edges 19-20 (Figure 4). vThis is de nedby a substantially straight line 28 that merges with an arcuate nose 29 that v '.recedes into a rearwardly and downwardly' inclined straight line 30. The latter line 30 merges ina horiy'zontal tab bottom edge l31f-which is contiguous with an upwardly inclinedstraight edge324 merging with the butt bottom 19 at a point Yspaced'fr'om the'facute angle 27 to define a solid throat or shank 33 the locking "tabs 2526.

Complemental to the locking tabs 2.5-26 are substantially horizontal elongated slots 17-18 preferably thoughnot essentially of trapezoidal shape and of sufficient width to freely receive the tabs 25-26 and with shorter upper edges 34-35 of a length somewhat' longer than the corresponding dimension of the locking tabs throats or Shanks 33 to enable ready Vinsertion therein with one tab 25 and Athen the next 26 by clockwise displacement over the upper edges 34--35 and into slots 17 and 18 respectively (Figure 2). After theinsertion of the tabs 25-26 into slots 17-18 of 'the staggered adja- :cent shingles 19-10 in the underlying course is thus effected, the supe.posed or overlying course of each shingle 10 is shifted to the left to effect the locking engagement of the inclined tab edge 28 with the differently angled and inclined forward end edges 36 of the slots 17-18. In this position, the locking tabs 25-26 substantially cover the bottom edge 37 of the locking tab slots 17-18.

To the end of precluding leakage of run-off water that may enter the elongated slots 17-18 on each side of the locking tab throats 33 along the lower slot lines 37 and to preclude tearing of the vertical butt defining vslots 413-13, the horizontal taben'gaging slots 17-18 are positioned within the shingle butts 1112 so as to be ventirelyremoved from communicationwith the vertical butt defining slots 13-13. Further, the extreme forward edges 36 thereof are spaced inwardly from the laterally offset forward Verticalv edge 16 to the extent of providing suiiicient solid lateral lap of preferably a minimum of one and one-halfinches. This will prevent runoff water infiltration and flow toward the abutting adja- Vcent edges 16-24 of the adjacent contiguous shingles 10 of the underlying course.

The lower horizontal edge 37 of the locking tab engaging slots 17-18 determines the line of exposure of the butts 11-12 of each shingle 10, and the lower butt edges 19-20 of the superposed course of shingles 10 is substantially in overlying alignment therewith to shield the upper edges 34-35 and the openings of the slots 17-18 with the throat or shank 33 of the locking Vtabs 25-26. It should be noted that the horizontal offset line 14 of each shingle 10 is located at a distance S upwardly of the tab locking slot bottom edge 37 which` distance S is less than the head lap L. The bottom line 37 of the slots 17-18 are substantially in line with the exposed butts 11 12 formed by the vertical slots 13-13 and the lowermost of bottom edges 19-20 of the superimposed shingle 10. This renders the roof deck water tight, and provides for total water run-off over th underlying shingles 10. v

With the features described, a multiple butt interlocking shingle has been provided which is devoid of locking tab slits that are prone to encourage tears such as with 'contiguous butt defining vertical slots or aresoshaped and positioned to be exposed even though partially proi with 4'superposed courses.

tec'ted by superposed courses. Then, too, the open depth elongated and fully inset straight locking tab lslots 17-18 permit ready insert of the locking tabs 25-26 therein without appreciable lifting thereon, and this too entails less time and labor as well as insures perfect application without danger of tears or ruptures. Of course, the lower courses are nailed to the roof structure as at 38-39-40 before theo'verlyi'ng or superposed courses are connected and applied.; i'lhe bott om.l orbeginning course is applied in slightoverlapping relation with the eave byutilizing theshingles 10 in `reversep'ositiori to provide a solid Aeave' adjoining first course and protect the roof structure under `the butt slots y1 3 1 3 ofthe first regularlyV disposed course Vof exposed butts 11-12 of the staggered and superposed-cours'esof shingles 10.

It will thus be appreciated that the shingle 10 embodying features of the present invention provides for ready laying of adjacent shingles in courses and for locking This interlocking is acc'omplishedl without segregating any portion of the Vslot -17--18 with anyother portion of the shingles 10 to facilitate the insertion of the locking tabs 25-2.6.v The locking tab 25 is readily receivedin theopen slot 17l and then clockwise displacement of the shingle 10- is effected to bring the second locking tab 26 into theopen slot 18 of Vthe rnext adjacentV shingle 10. With a slight shift thereof tothe left, locking is effected between the fadjacent shingles'l() through the-locking tabs 25'26 of the over lying courseand the slots., 17-18 of: the underlying course, .and the next shingle correspondingly applied without danger` of tearingfthe slots 13-13, the"s lo ts 17-18, or the tabs 25-26 during itheir'application;

While I have `illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it must be understood Y'that thevinvention is capable of considerable variation and modification without. departing from the Aspirit ofthe invention. I, therefore, do not wish to belimited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desirev to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the `scope of theappended claims.

l. An'interlocking square butt strip shingle adapted to be laid in courses with like strip shingles with `the lower end portions of each strip shingle exposedl while the upper portions are covered by exposed portionsk of separate courses of strip shingles to providea roof covering in which the butts of the strip shingles of successive courses are staggered, saidshingle comprising a substantially rectangular strip of tlexible, waterproofed material having at least one recess extending vertically from the lower edge through the exposed lower end portion to divide the strip into laterally spaced butt units, each butt unit having a tab extending downwardly rfrom its lower edge and in laterally spaced apart relation from lthe side edges of the respective butt unit with a neck at the upper edge of the tab dimensioned to be of greater width than Ithe remainder and with an edge on one side of the tab making an acute angle with the adjacent lower edge ofthe butt unit, each strip having horizontally ldisposed lslots equal in number to the tabs and spaced from the side vedges of the butt units and spaced one'from the other to Acorrespond to the spaced relation between the tabs, each of said-slots being formed with an upper edge spaced from the lower edge and dirnensioned to have a lengthy greater than thewidth` at the lower lend portion of the tabsl and with-the lowerfedge dimensionedto'have a pair of butt units and in which each butt unit has a tab and a slot to provide a pair of tabs and slots in the shingle strip.

3. An interlocking square butt strip shingle adapted to be laid in courses with like strip shingles with the lower edge portions of each strip shingle exposed while lthe upper edge portions are covered to provide a roof covering in which the butts of the strip shingles of successive courses are staggered, said shingle comprising a substantially rectangular strip of flexible, waterproofed material having at least one recess extending vertically through the exposed lower end portion of the strip to divide the strip into laterally spaced butt units, a tab extending downwardly from the lower edge of each butt unit in laterally spaced apart relation from the side edges thereof, said tab having a neck at the upper edge dimensioned to be of greater width than the remainder and an edge on `one side making an acute angle with the adjacent lower edge of the butt unit, each strip having horizontally disposed slots equal in number to the tabs and spaced from the side edges of the butt units and spaced one from the other to correspond to the spaced relation between the tabs, each of said slots having an upper edge spaced from the lower with the latter dimensioned to have a length greater than the neck portion' `of the tabs and aligned with the upper edge of the exposed portions of the strip, said slot being formed with an edge along one side inclined in the same direction as the side edge of the tab making an acute angle with the butt unit so that the locking tabs of staggered superposed shingles will engage the slots along the line of exposure of underlying courses.

4. An interlocking square butt strip shingle as claimed in claim 3 in which the opposite side of the tab extends downwardly at a lesser angle from the lower edge of the butt unit than the rst edge to provide a tab which decreases in width from the neck outwardly to provide n end portion oiset to one side from the neck.

5. An interlocking square butt strip shingle as claimed in claim 3 in which the upper and lower edges of the slots are parallel to provide a slot of trapezoidal shape.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATIENTS 2,452,708 Abraham Nov. 2, 1948 2,533,378 King Dec. 12, 1950 2,659,322 Abraham Nov. 17, 1953 

